#castellano

*also known as español, idioma español, Castilian, castellano

note: this is a remake of a now-privated older poll.

Absolutely no hate to OP because I’m sure this was just an oversight but I find the only “Duolingo-less” option being “no, i have no interest in learning a new language.” kind of interesting.

So just a PSA: Duolingo is not the only way to learn a language. In fact, it’s not even close to being the best way, nor even the best free way. I’m currently studying four languages and I have unique learning approaches to each of them. I study German and Spanish as part of my degree and am currently working abroad to improve my use of these languages. Naturally, this is the most effective approach but by no means the most accessible because, of course, it requires a lot of money and more time and effort than the average casual language learner is willing to spend.

I study Greek at local in-person classes. This is honestly a really great way to learn as you’re often able to use bit of the language with others from the get-go, and learn from your mistakes more quickly. Of course, not everyone has language schools near to them or, if they do, these schools do not offer the specific languages that you’re interested in. Do me a favour though and just check, because there might be one near you. You might luck on just like I did. It goes without saying that the prices of these classes can vary (depending on term length and number of students, amongst other things) but I have often found them to be fairly good value for money - this is subjective though.

I study Welsh entirely free and entirely from the comfort of my own home. Welsh is one of the many languages offered on Transparent Languages, a website which my local library pays for and makes accessible to all those with a library card. It has a similar* structure to Duolingo but a much better revision system and clearer progression paths. Naturally, this is what my library offers but I would recommend checking out what free services there are in your area - or even seeing if your library has any textbooks available to borrow. In addition, with heritage languages such as Welsh, you may be able to find subsidised online/ in-person courses. For Welsh in particular, I knew a German person (living in Germany) who took part in some of these classes so geography may not even be a restriction.

TL;DR: Duolingo is a machine-translated, corporate nightmare and not the best way to learn a language for the vast majority of people. Expand your horizons! Find your unique way of learning!